Safety device



Oct. 2, 1923.

W. E. JAMES SAFETY DEVICE Filed July l2. 1922 Milgram m ATTORNEY flanged Patented Oct. 2, 19223.

UNITED STATESv 1,469,652 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAI EWABT JAMES, F BEABDS FORK, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-THIRD T0 HATHANIEL B. LEE AND ONE-THIRD T0 LENARD WALKER, BOTH 0F BEABDS FORK, WEST VIRGINIA.

SAFETY nEvIc.

Application tiled July 12, 1922. Serial No. 574,590.

To all wlwm it may concem:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM EwAR'r JAMES, a citizen of Great Britain, residing at Beards Fork in the county of Fayette and State of West Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices, of which the following is a speciication.

My `present invention has reference to a fusible ni designed to protect the gathering cable, ree and controller of electric motors and c'oal euttin machines from electrical and mechanical defects and also designed to protect the operators in handling the same.

,The foregoing, and many other objects which will present themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood may be accomplished by a construction, combination and operative association of parts such as is disclosed by the drawings which accompany and which form part of this application.

In the drawings Figure 1 illustrates an elevation of the improvement with parts in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a copper wire rod 1 that has one of its ends bent to form the same with a hook 2, the said hook designed to be arran ed over a trolley wire and to serve as a con u ctor.

The handle of the improvement is preferably in the nature of a tubular case 3 of insulating material. The tube has both of its ends threaded and there are screwed on the said ends cap members 4 respectively.

In the insulating case 3 there is a frame or body 5 which is also of insulating material andfrom one end of the said frame or body and extending through one of the caps 4 there is a socket 6 of metal, and in this socket the copper rod 1 is received. The socket is provided at spaced intervals with. threaded openings surrounded by bosses, and screwed through these lopenings to contact with the rod are head members?.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the socket 6 has its inner end outwardly, as at 8 to be contacted by the flared central bore or opening in the cap 4, the said socket having its inner edge also flanged inwardly, as at 9 to enga e the shoulder 10 formed on the neck portion 11 of a metallic block 12. The block 12 is in direct Contact with the rod 1. The block 12 is secured in the frame by screw members 13 and has its inner end provided with a reduced extension 14. On one of the straight edges of the said extension 14-there is a `flat spring 15 secured by means 16. The free outer end of the flat spring is curved or rounded upon itself to form a lip and the said spring is designed to clamp a fuse 17 on the block 12.

A substantially similar block 18 is arranged in the frame, the same being provided with a spring clip 19 on its inner reduced end 20 to engage the fuse. The metallic block 18 is secured in the frame by screws 21 and is provided with a neck portion 22 that passes through an opening 23 in one end of the frame 5. In this connection it should be stated that the neck 11 on vthe block l2 passes through an opening in the opposite end of the frame. On the outer end of the neck 22 there is an enlarged bifurcated head 24, and pivotally secured as at 25 in the said head there is a terminal 26 to which the insulated gathering cable 27 is connected.

As is well-known in the art, the gathering motors and coal cutting machines receive their power direct from the trolley wire by means of an insulating cable through the reel to the controller. These devices, however, offer no protection against grounding or short circuiting in the cable or reel. The reel in athering motors as well as in cutting mac ines often becomes grounded and before the motorman or his helper has time to disconnect the same from the power line, the whole cable is scorched or burned, and as these cables are usually from 300 to 500 feet in length, the loss in value as well as in time can be readily appreciated. With my improvementthe fuse will blow out and prevent any damage to the cable or reel and offers an additional protection to the controller.

Having described the invention, I claim In a device for the purpose set forth, a metal rod having a bent end, a casing of insulating material, a frame also of insulating material arranged therein, metal blocks at the ends of the frame passing therethrough, a socket connected to the frame and casing receiving the metal rod therein, adjusting means between the socket and the rod, a head on one of the blocks projecting through one end of the frame and casing, a terminal pivoted thereto, a conductor connected to the terminal, and a fuse removably secured between the blocks.

2. In a device for the purpose set forth, a

` copper wire rod having a bent end, a casing of insulating material, a frame of insulating material therein, cap members closing the ends of the casing and retaining the frame therein, metal blocks having neck portions projecting through the frame and caps, a metal socket projecting from the frame and held in engagement therewith by one of the caps and one of the metal blocks, said socket receiving the copper rod therein, means for binding the rod in the socket, a conductor terminal pivotally secured to the second block, and a fuse between the blocks.

3. In a device for the purpose set forth, a casing of insulating material having a socket projecting from one end thereof, a copper rod havlng a bent end received in the socket, binding means on the socket contacting the rod, metal blocks sustained in spaced relation in the casing, one of which being in contact with the socket and with the copper rod, a conductor terminal pivot-' ally connected to the second block, spring` clamps on the blocks adjacent to the confronting ends thereof, and a fuse engaged by said clamps.

In testimonyT whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM EIVART JAMES. 

